On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Garfield High School fields in New Jersey (500 Palisade Avenue) will host the 36th Kazimierz Deyna Memorial — the largest Polish-American soccer tournament outside of Poland. Starting at 8:00 AM, 16 teams from the US will compete in two categories, and the special guest will be the Ruch Chorzów club from Poland.
For years, Garfield, New Jersey has been associated by the Polish community with an event that draws entire families to the fields every year — the Kazimierz Deyna Memorial. This year marks the thirty-sixth edition of the tournament, and the organizers — the Polish American Soccer Association (ZPKP) — promise the most extensive program in the event’s history.
Who was Kazimierz Deyna
The tournament is named after Kazimierz Deyna, one of the most outstanding Polish football players in history — the captain of the Polish national team that won third place at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. Deyna played for Legia Warsaw, among others, and continued his career in the United States, where he passed away in 1989 in California. For decades, the memorial named in his honor has combined sports with the memory of one of the most recognizable Polish athletes of the 20th century.
16 teams, two categories
In this year’s edition, sixteen teams will face each other on the pitch, divided into two categories: eight teams in the open category and eight teams in the Over 40 category, intended for players over forty. The tournament will run from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
This year, the event will gain a unique setting thanks to a special guest from Poland — K.S. Ruch Chorzów, one of the most titled teams in the history of the Polish Ekstraklasa, will perform on the fields in Garfield.
The tournament format itself — the simultaneous competition of open teams and Over 40 veterans — has for years allowed both younger players and those associated with Polish-American clubs for decades to play. It is this generational continuity that makes the Kazimierz Deyna Memorial often called the largest celebration of Polish-American soccer outside of Poland — for one day, teams representing Polish soccer clubs from various states converge on Garfield.
Children’s exhibition match and attractions for the whole family
A separate highlight of the program will be an exhibition match between children’s teams NY vs NJ, featuring the youngest players from the 2014, 2015, and 2016 birth years — a symbolic clash of representatives from New York and New Jersey.
The organizers have also prepared a wide-ranging program for the youngest fans: bounce houses, games and activities, contests with prizes, and live music. Polish cuisine will also be available on-site. The entire event will be hosted by Wojciech Ziebowicz, a well-known and respected sports commentator. The organizers invite entire families to the tournament.
Sponsors and organizer
The event is organized by the Polish American Soccer Association (ZPKP). Tournament sponsors include the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Sherwin-Williams, PCH NJ & LLC, and Bart’s Professional Painting LLC.
What this means for the Polish community of New York and New Jersey
For the Polish community of the New York metropolitan area, the Deyna Memorial has long been one of those days that doesn’t require a long trip, yet provides a full, all-day celebration — sports, music, food, and meeting friends from across the region. Garfield is easily accessible for residents of both New Jersey and New York, which for years has made this tournament a natural gathering point for Polish soccer clubs from all over the United States.
The tournament lasts all day — from morning to evening — making it easy to plan an entire Sunday around it: come for the morning open category matches, stay for the children’s exhibition match, and watch the Over 40 finals in the evening. For families with children, it’s also an opportunity to show the youngest ones what Polish community sports life looks like outside the home — without traveling to Poland.
Tournament details and updates are available on the organizer’s website: www.zpkp.org.
Organizers of Polish events and gatherings will find support among companies in the Polish Pages directory, dedicated to events and celebrations.
